Reenforcing means for spindle bolts



April 6 1926. v 1,579,472

A. cRosT i REENFORCING MEANS FOR SPINDLE BOLTS Filed Sept. 24, 1925 2 sheets-Sheet 1 April 6 1926. 1,579,472

A. cRosT vREENFORCING MEANS FOR SPINDLE BOLTS Fil'ed Sept. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 'Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

'i UNITED. i STATES v1,579,472v lrxrrzla-i OFFICE.;

ALBEarcRosnoF CLEVELAND, 01110.

REENFORCING MEANS ron` sHNDLEnoLTs.

Application led September 24, 1925. Serial No. 58,259-

To all u1/1.0m t may concern.' l u Be 1t known that I, ALBERT Cnos'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county-of Cuyahoga andStatel retaining thev spindle bolt of a vehicle of the automobilertype. Y

The object of the invention isto provide a means for taking up the lost motion between the spindle and the bearing therefor,V and to stop rattles and vibrationsof the front of thecar and to prevent the front wheels from shimnnying.v l, y j

Further objects of my invention are to stop the backlash in theI steering wheel: when traveling over rough roads, tolkeep the4r front wheels in proper alignment, to give better steering control, to stop rattlev of thesteering rods,` to stop wobble of the steering wheel and to make the car safer to drive. e

The objects of the invention are accomplished chieflyV by reenforcing the spindle bolt and the forks of the axle whereby the same may be better ableto resist and withstand the various shocks and strains on the forks incident to the swinging movement of the spindle and the vibrationv of the wheels when riding over rough road beds. Therefore, I attain the objects of the invention by providing reenforcing and bracing means which will olfset and resist the various strains referred to and thereby reduce wear and vibration and prolong the life of the car.

The inventioncomprises further features and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and set forth in the appended claims.

In 'the drawing Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the brace; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of brace; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the split clevis or clamping ring used with theV form of the invention disclosed inFig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings 1 designates a portion of a conventional form of axle provided with the usual forks 2 and 3. The fork 2 inclnes upwardly and has an overhanging horizontal 1.

portion 4 which is spaced Ain superimposed parallel relation to the lower horizontalrportion 5 of the fork 3. These portions 'have suitable aligned openings therein adapted' to receivev therethrough respectively the upper.

and lower ends of the spindle bolt 6 andto form la bearing `for the same. .Nuts 7 and S serve-.to hold thelspindle boltlin place. v Secured;y to the upper fork of the axleand extending up and around the horizontal portionY 4 is Va brace or reenforcing member 9i This member 9 may be cast or stamped and is formedfto closely fit the axle and upper fork, the upper part of the sameextending upwardly and around `the horizontal portion 4 of the fork as clearly shown in Fig. .1. This .upper portion has an opening therethrough in alignment .with the opening in the horizontal portion 4 ofthe fork. It will be noted that thespindle-.bolt passes through thisopeningand Ythat the-nut T is above the brace 9 theI purpose of which will hereinafter appear.V The; lower end. vof the brace 9, has aA pairv of'arms l0 formed integral therewith and these arms are adapted to pass downwardly along each side of the axle as disclosed in Fig. 1. Thesearms are screw `threaded at their lower ends the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

VTo securethe brace to the axle the nut.7 is removed and the brace 9 is placed over the fork 2 with the upper part engaging around the horizontal portion 4, the up erv end of the spindle bolt passing through t e opening in the' brace. The arms 10 pass down around or straddle the axle. For securing the brace to the axleI provide a clamp 11 having suit-k able openings 11 therein adapted to receive the arms 10 therethrough. The clamp 11 is placed over-the arms 10 and suitable nuts 12 are then applied and tightened to rigidly se-V cure the brace to the axle. The nut 7 is then replaced and tightened.

lon

. -Formed integral with the brace 9 is a pair of oppositely disposed arms as clearly threaded at their outer ends the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. A clamping `shown in Figs. 1 and 2. TheseA arms are Y ring 14 formed as shown in Fig. 2 survrounds the spindle bolt 6 and is secured Y,

preventing dismounting of the spindle yin event `of `displacement or breakage of the bolt. When used With Ford cars this elevis also serves to keep the car in the road-land to prevent Wobbling of the front wheels.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have-shown a'modilied forni of my device in which l use a detachable split ring or-'clevis 114 as-a substitute for the clamping ring let. T he ring 14 is formed as clearly shown in Fig'. 5 and is vadapted to surround the brace and spindlelboltfas shownin Fig. 1l. A `washer 17o-f suitable material having the saine inclination asthe brace is first inserted over the` end foftheclevis and a nut 18 is then applied and-tightened as desired. The bi'ace 9 preferably has r4an embossed portion or groove which serves to hold the clevis in a horizontal position. rllhis clevis lpierforms fthesame function as ithe clamping ring- 14.

-fIt will nowbe clearfthat f1 have provided a devicewhich will accomplishthe objects ofthe invention as hereinbefore stated.

"Having thusV described my i invention, what Iclaim is:

1. In combination with a forked axle having a Wheel engaging spindle mounted thereon, a reenforcing brace secured to said axle, and extending along one fork of said axle, an adjustable clevis 4surrounding said spindle and brace comprising means for dra-Wing said spindle toward said brace.

2. In combination Wit-h a swivel ljoint including axle forks and aspindlebolt mounted therebetween, a reenforcingbracesecured tovand overlying one of said forks, and adjustable means connecting said brace and spindle whereby to exert a lateral pull on said spindle.

3. In combination with a forked axle having a spindle fbo'lt mounted between the forks thereof, an adjustablenbrace secured to said axle and overlying `the'upper fork thereof iand `surrounding said spindle bolt, a clevis surroundingsaid spindle bolt and adjustably secured to `said. brace whereby to reenforce said spindle'bolt and to draw the same Vtoward 'said brace.

t. In combination with a forked axle having a spindle bolt mounted between 4the forks thereof, a reenforcing brace secured to said axle and extending along the upper fork thereof and lia-ving an'opening therein adapted to receive saidspindle bolt therethrough7 and an adjustable clevis 'surrounding saidspindle boltand brace.

5. In combination, a forked axle having a 'spindle bolt mounted between the forks thereof, an adjustable brace securedto said axle and having a portion'surrounding said spindle bolt at a point spaced from the ends thereof and means vfor adjusting said brace whereby to reenforce said spindle bolt and to exert a lateral pull thereon.

'In testimony whereof, tI hereunto aiiixmy signature.`

ALBERT CROST. 

